3

"What would you do, love, when home returning, With hope high burning, with wealth for you, If my bark, that bounded o'er foreign foam,

Should be lost near home, ah! what would you do?" "So thou wert spared I'll bless the morrow, In want and sorrow, that left me you, And I'd welcome thee from the wasting billow, Thy heart my pillow-that's what I'd do."

I

180.

I LEFT my love in England,
In poverty and pain;

The tears hung heavy in my eyes,
But hers came down like rain;
I gave her half of all I had,
Repress'd the rising sigh;

For, thinking of the days to come,
I kept my courage high.

66

1

Farewell," I said, "if seasons pass,
And sunshine follows rain,

And morning dawns on darkest night,
You'll see me back again."

2 I left my love in England,

And sail'd the stormy sea,

To earn my bread by honest toil,
An honest man and free.

I wrought and strove from morn to night,
And saved my little store;

And every summer gave me wealth,

And made the little more.

At length I bought the field I plough'd,
The sunshine follow'd rain,

The morning dawn'd on heavy nigl.t,
And I went back again.

3 I sought my love in England,
And brought her o'er the sea;
A happy man, a happy wife,
To bless my home and me.
My farm is large, my wants are small,
I bid my care depart,

And sit beneath my own oak-tree
With proud and grateful heart.

The children smiling round the board,
Ne'er ask for bread in vain ;
'Tis balmy morning after night,
'Tis sunshine after rain.

181.

I OH! the Lady of the Lea,

Fair and young and gay was she,
Beautiful exceedingly,

The Lady of the Lea.

Many a wooer sought her hand,
For she had gold and she had land,
Everything at her command,
The Lady of the Lea.

Oh, the Lady, &c.

2 When she had in bower or hall

Banquet high or festival,

On every side her glance would fall,
Sparkling merrily.

But, when ask'd if she would wed,
She would toss her dainty head,
Saying, laughingly, instead,

66

Sirs, we would be free;
Time enough, I trow," quoth she,
"When we're tired of liberty;
For the present we would be
The Lady of the Lea."

Oh, the Lady, &c.

3 To her bower at length there came
A youthful knight of noble name,
Heart and hand in hope to claim,
And in love fell she.

Still she put his suit aside,
So he left her in her pride,
And, broken-hearted, droop'd and died
The Lady of the Lea.

Oh, the Lady of the Lea,
Young and fair as fair could be,

Cold within the tomb lies she,

Sleeping peacefully!

Oh, the Lady, &c.

182.

I THE sun is setting slowly
Behind the western hills;
And silence calm and holy
The distant hamlet fills!
What sounds are these now greeting
My ear, from yonder dells?
Now nearing, now retreating,
Hark! pretty tinkling bells!
Sheep bells!

Those pretty tinkling bells!

2 Oh! how those sounds remind me
Of hours that fled too fast!
But in a trance they bind me,
To live again the past!

Once more I roam the wild wood,
Where rugged nature dwells,
Possessing all my childhood---
Hark! pretty tinkling bells!
Sheep bells!

Those pretty tinkling bells!

183.

I I DREAM of all things free!
Of a gallant, gallant bark,

That sweeps through storm and sea
Like an arrow to its mark!
Of a stag that o'er the hills

Goes bounding in his glee;
Of a thousand flashing rills-
Of all things glad and free.

2 I dream of some proud bird,
A bright-eyed mountain king!
In my visions I have heard
The rushing of his wing.
I follow some wild river,

On whose breast no sail may be;
Dark woods around it shiver-
I dream of all things free!

3 Of a happy forest child,

With the fawns and flowers at play ;
Of an Indian midst the wild,

With the stars to guide his way :
Of a chief his warriors leading,
Of an archer's green-wood tree ;-
My heart in chains is bleeding;—
And I dream of all things free!

184.

IA WIND came up out of the sea,

And said, "O mist! make room for me;" It hail'd the ships, and cried, "Sail on, Ye mariners, the night is gone!" And hurried landward far away, Crying, "Awake! it is the day!" 2 It said unto the forest, "Shout! Hang all your leafy banners out!" It touch'd the wood-bird's folded wing, And said, "O bird, awake and sing! And o'er the farms, "O chanticleer, Your clarion blow, the day is near!" 3 It whisper'd to the fields of corn, "Bow down, and hail the coming morn!" It shouted through the belfry tow'r,

Awake, O bell! proclaim the hour!" It cross'd the churchyard with a sigh, And said, "Not yet-in quiet lie!

185.

I I'M lonesome since I cross'd the hill,
And o'er the moor and valley;

Such heavy thoughts my heart do fill,
Since parting with my Sally.

I seek no more the fine and gay,
For each does but remind me
How swift the hours did pass away
With the girl I left behind me.

2 Oh! ne'er shall I forget the night,
The stars were bright above me,
And gently lent their silv'ry light,
When first she vow'd to love me.

But now I'm bound to Brighton camp,
Kind Heaven, then pray guide me,
And send me safely back again

To the girl I've left behind me.
3 Had I the heart to sing her praise
With all the skill of Homer,
One only theme should fill my lays,
The charms of my true lover.
So let the night be e'er so dark,
Or e'er so wet and windy,
Kind Heaven send me back again
To the girl I've left behind me.

4 Her golden hair in ringlets fair,

Her eyes like diamonds shining,
Her slender waist, with carriage chaste,
May leave the swain repining.
Ye gods above! oh, hear my prayer,
To my beauteous fair to bind me,
And send me safely back again
To the girl I've left behind me.

5 The bee shall honey taste no more,
The dove become a ranger,

The falling waves shall cease to roar,
E'er I shall seek to change her.

The vows we register'd above

Shall ever cheer and bind me

In constancy to her I love,

The girl I've left behind me.

186.

I YOUNG Tom the carman's tongue was slow A sorry gift of speech had he;

He'd rather let his horses know

His secret thoughts than you or me.
He whistled, whistled, whistled daily,
Whether good or ill befell;
He whistled sadly, whistled gaily,
While his horses mark'd him well.

2 Fair Susan's glance was proud and cold,
The carman's heart she nearly broke;
But still his face was bluff and bold,
And not a single word he spoke.